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Bat Care and Warranty

Follow our Bat Care Guide, on how to properly knock in your cricket bat for optimal performance and longevity.  Additionally, explore our comprehensive bat warranty, ensuring peace of mind with every purchase. Discover how Nighthawk Cricket equips you with the knowledge and support to keep your bat in top condition, match after match.

How to knock in your new Nighthawk cricket bat

You will need: Nighthawk Cricket bat, Hardwood bat mallet, raw linseed oil, cloth or sponge

grade 1 bats
knocking in mallet
raw linseed oil
cloth or sponge

STEP 1

Apply one teaspoonful of raw linseed on to the face and edges of your bat – use the cloth or sponge to spread evenly.

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STEP 2

Discard the cloth after raw linseed oil has been applied. (This is important because dry linseed oil is flammable!)

 

STEP 3

Rest your bat horizontally with the face up overnight, allowing the oil to soak in.

 

STEP 4

Apply a second coat of raw linseed oil on to your bat – repeat steps 1, 2 and 3.

 

STEP 5

Hold the bat vertically with the blade up and begin gently knocking in your bat. Focus on the bat face (hitting zone), along the edges and the toe of the bat. Continue for 15 minutes.

 

STEP 6

Repeat step 5 (total 4 x 15 minutes sessions, gently knocking in your bat).

 

STEP 7

Again, hold the bat vertically with blade up, and begin knocking in your bat with more force.

 

STEP 8

Repeat step 7 (total 8 x 15 minutes sessions knocking in your bat with more force).

 

STEP 9

Gentle throw downs, with a good quality cricket ball.

 

STEP 10

Repeat step 9 (total 8 x 15 minutes sessions).

 

STEP 11

Over arm throw downs, with a good quality cricket ball or at bowling machine practice.

 

STEP 12

Repeat step 11 (total 8 x 15 minutes sessions).

Your bat is now match ready!

Even after knocking in your bat, no matter how well the process is carried out, your bat will not be indestructible! If you hit a ball hard enough in the wrong place on your bat, your bat will sustain some damage.

Tips

  • When knocking in the toe and edges, use a wrist action with the mallet (holding approximately 3-4 inches from the bottom).

  • When knocking in the face of your bat, use arm swings.

  • Do not to concentrate on knocking in one spot for too long. It is important to carry out the process evenly across the face and edges to create a fairly smooth finish.

  • Hold your bat up to the light to see which areas still need to be compressed.

  • Do not knock in the sides, bottom or back of your bat.

  • If you notice seam marks or indentations on the face of your bat, this would indicate it still needs more time spent knocking it in.

Cricket Bat Warranty

At Nighthawk Cricket, we make our bats from the finest English willow and cane handles in our UK workshop.

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There are lots of factors which affect the lifespan of a cricket bat.

  • The quality of the willow cleft and cane handles.

  • The moisture content of the willow cleft.

  • The design of the bat (size and shape).

  • Preparation for play (knocking-in and oiling)

  • The player, their style of play, technique, and the force with which they strike the cricket ball.

  • The amount of usage leading to wear and tear.

  • Storage in a cool, dry place when not in use.

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Because willow is a softwood and a natural product, every cricket bat will deteriorate over time and usage. Please also read our Bat knock-in guide above, and refer to the table below for Bat Wear and Tear covered by our warranty. 

Bat Warranty

Our bat warranty covers the main manufacturing faults for 12 months. It also covers shoulder splits and delamination for 6 months subject to normal usage, proper bat preparation and care.

MANUFACTURING OR PRODUCT FAULTS
WARRANTY PERIOD
Handle breakage under normal use
6 Months
Horizontal split due to willow defect such as storm damage
6 Months
WEAR & TEAR FAULTS COVERED BY WARRANTY
WARRANTY PERIOD
Shoulder splits which are not direct impact related
6 Months
Delamination of the hitting surface
6 Months
Faults not Covered

  • Normal wear and tear  

  • Deliberate damage or misuse   

  • Yorker damage to the toe resulting in toe split or cracks

  • Edge damage from ball impact or mistiming of shot

  • Impact damage by poor grade, very hard balls

  • Water damage by rain or damp wickets

  • Toe feathering - Caused by lack or oiling & overzealous bat taping

  • Damage caused by poor storage conditions - too damp or dry

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Please Note: Each warranty case will be assessed by one of our bat experts and their decision shall be final. Anything above and beyond is at the discretion of Nighthawk Cricket.

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